The Turning Point of the Great Commission

When Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission, it signaled a turning point in sharing the good news of the kingdom. Before we delve into this, let's read Christ's final instructions to his disciples in Matthew 28:16-20,

[18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Here, Christ instructed the disciples to spread his teaching to ALL of the nations and baptize them. Before this point, teaching the good news of his kingdom was primarily given to the Jews. Sometimes, Gentiles would slip in and hear his teachings and would believe. However, we see in scripture that Jesus' teachings were meant first for the Jews.

We read in Matthew 10:5-6,
[5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. [6] Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

And Jesus said in Matthew 15:24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

And Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:16,
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

At what point did this mission change from teaching only the Israelites to teaching ALL nations? Jesus provides the answer in Luke 24:46-47 where he spoke with his disciples after his resurrection.

[46] He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to ALL nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Once Jesus had died for the sins of ALL mankind and overcame death with his resurrection, then the mission had expanded to teaching ALL nations. Before that point, Gentiles were excluded from the covenant with God and only the Jewish priests were permitted behind the curtain to meet with God.

Upon the death of Jesus, that curtain was torn in two and direct access to God became open to ALL believers. We read in Mark 15:37-39,

[37] Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. [38] And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. [39] When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Gentiles were no longer excluded and now shared the inheritance with the Jews. Apostle Paul shares in Ephesians 2:11-14,

[11] Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” ... [12] remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

Jews and Gentiles are now one in Christ. Gentiles now could be grafted into the inheritance that once only belonged to His chosen people, the Jews. Now all believing Gentiles and Jews share God's covenant of promise together.

While there are a significant number of Messianic Jews who believe that Jesus is our Resurrected Lord and Savior, some Christians may wonder about the unbelieving Jews. Paul discusses this in Romans 11:25-27,

[25] I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, [26] and in this way ALL Israel WILL BE SAVED. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. [27] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

God's word given through Paul clearly tells us that ALL of Israel will be saved. Those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior, have not lost their inheritance. They have not been eternally cut off. God has allowed their temporary blindness so that, through them, many Gentiles can be grafted into the promise. Once the full number of Gentiles have been brought in, God will open their eyes as we read in the prophecy of Isaiah 35:2-5,

"...they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God...“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

And we read in Revelation 1:7, “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”.

So let us remember the sacrificial turning point that has allowed both the Gentiles and Jews to share the inheritance together. Jesus gave his life to not only save his own chosen people, the Jews, but also to make salvation available to all nations by tearing the curtain open. And one day all eyes will see our Messiah, in all his glory, coming with the clouds.
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